NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Windy conditions are expected to continue across the northern Gulf Coast ahead of strong storms late Monday night into early Tuesday morning.
As temperatures warm and atmospheric instability increases through late Monday afternoon, conditions will become favorable for strong to severe storms. Scattered storms are possible through the evening before a line of storms moves across the area, likely between 12 a.m. (midnight) and 5 a.m. Tuesday.
The main threats in any severe storms that develop will be damaging wind gusts, hail, and isolated tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi under a Level 2 (out of 5) threat for severe weather.
There is a higher risk for tornadoes in central and southwestern Mississippi where there is a Level 3 threat. Be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts overnight in the event watches and warnings are issued.
Before the storms arrive, winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected to continue with gusts up to 40 mph. A Wind Advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. Tuesday.
With the winds coming from the south and southeast, coastal flooding will be a concern, particularly for southeast-facing coastlines. Although we are in the neap tide portion of the tide cycle, which typically leads to lower water levels around high tide, inundation of 1 to 2 feet above ground will still be possible. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. Tuesday.
By late Tuesday morning, conditions are expected to improve as the rain and moisture move east out of the area. Mostly clear skies are forecast to return by Tuesday afternoon and continue for the next several days with high temperatures in the 70s.
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